Material Abstraction | Coded Language

At this time in our history, when erasure and silencing are at the forefront of America’s policies and politics, it seems fitting to explore abstraction as a powerful tool of defiance, with coded language that is woven, stitched, and painted as a means of cultural reckoning, reflection, and survival. The work on view will be eminently relatable, but it is just this material familiarity that opens the door to histories of struggle, violence, and bias, as well as the resilience of purpose and resistance inspiring creative practices today.

Enfolding the stories of coded language forms the theme of our 400 sq. ft. booth at Expo Chicago. The gallery will present woven leather and acrylic paintings by Pilar Agüero-Esparza (current exhibition); beaded brocade tapestries from John Paul Morabito; embellished boxing gloves from Demetri Broxton; and sculpture, tapestries, and black & white photographs from Ramekon O’Arwisters. In addition, there will be selections of small-format oil paintings from Cornelia Schulz, as well as a curated selection of Magnificat tapestries from John Paul Morabito, which are currently on exhibition at Kent State University Museum in the exhibition, JOHN PAUL MORABITO: Madonna dei Femminellə.